From April, households will be able to recycle aluminium foil and plastic tubes – including used toothpaste tubes – as part of their kerbside recycling collection.
These will be collected in the green bins alongside paper, card, glass bottles and jars. Recycling will also include cartons, food and drink in metal tins, cans, aerosols and plastic bottles, pots, tubs and trays.
The change supports the Government’s Simpler Recycling policy, which aims to make recycling collections more consistent across England, so everyone can recycle the same materials.
It is hoped that the new changes will help reduce confusion, improve recycling rates, and support national ambitions for 65% of household waste being recycled by 2035.
Residents can now include the following clean and empty items in their green bin:
- Aluminium foil e.g. kitchen foil, foil trays
- Plastic tubes e.g. toothpaste and cosmetic tubes
This is alongside the following materials that have been recycled in Worcester and Worcestershire since 2009:
- Glass bottles & jars
- Paper & cardboard
- Cartons
- Metal food & drinks cans
- Aerosols
- Plastic bottles, pots, tubs & trays.
Bins should be placed out by 7am on your normal collection day. Residents living in flats can use their communal recycling bins, which are clearly marked.
Cllr Zoe Cookson, Chair of Worcester City Council’s Environment Committee, said: “We’re pleased to be expanding our recycling service, making it simpler than ever for residents to recycle more from home.
“These improvements will help people recycle everyday items, cut down on waste, boost local recycling rates and support progress toward the Government’s 65% recycling target."
Recycled items collected from Worcester residents’ homes are sorted at EnviroSort, Worcestershire County Council’s material reclamation facility in Norton.
They are then sent for reprocessing, where they are cleaned and transformed into new products.
Recycling these items saves energy, conserves natural resources and helps keep valuable materials out of landfill.
Worcester City Council also offers separate collection services for garden waste, larger items (bulky waste) and commercial waste.
